Kalanchoe plant named ‘Forever Maxi Rose’

ABSTRACT

A new Kalanchoe cultivar named ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ characterized by its large rose-pink colored flowers, dense inflorescence, semi-mounded growth habit and excellent lateral and basal branching.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and knownby the cultivar name ‘Forever Maxi Rose’. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ wasdeveloped in a controlled breeding program in Ashtabula, Ohio bycrossing Mikkelsen Seedling No. 91-201-2 (seed parent) (unpatented) withMikkelsen Seedling No. 90-301-2 (pollen parent) (unpatented). The seedand pollen parents are proprietary breeding lines which have not beensold or made publicly available in this country. The plant is perennialbut typically used as an annual in the floriculture industry.

Asexual reproduction by stem cuttings taken by the inventor in Lompoc,Calif. has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe arestabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Kalanchoe from [bothits parent varieties and] other cultivated Kalanchoes of this type knownto the inventor. The characteristics are described with comparativereference to the cultivars Royalty (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,254) and Iztac(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,455).

1. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ has rose-pink colored flowers of Red Group 51Awhile ‘Royalty’ has deep rose colored flowers of Pink Group 52A and‘Iztac’ has being lighter rose colored flowers of Red-Purple Group 58B.

2. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ has larger flowers at 16 mm in diameter than‘Royalty’ (14 mm in diameter) and ‘Iztac’ (15 mm in diameter).

3. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ has a much denser flower inflorescence than‘Royalty’ and ‘Iztac’ which each have more open inflorescence.

4. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ is intermediate in leaf length at 9 to 10 cm with‘Royalty’ having 11 to 12 cm long leaves and ‘Iztac’ having 8 to 9 cmlong leaves.

5. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ has large lobes in crenate leaf margin which isthe same as ‘Royalty’ while the fine lobing of ‘Iztac’ appears almostserrated.

6. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ has a cyme inflorescence which is similar to‘Royalty’ and ‘Iztac’ has a compound umbel.

7. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ is intermediate in flowering response at 8.5 to 9weeks with ‘Iztac’ being earlier at 8 weeks and ‘Royalty’ being later at11 weeks.

8. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ is intermediate in peduncle strength with‘Royalty’ being stronger and ‘Iztac’ weaker.

9. ‘Forever Maxi Rose’ and Royalty keep 5 to 7 days longer than ‘Iztac’under home conditions.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof this cultivar, as described in detail below, taken as a face view ofthe plant and showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar, based onplants produced in greenhouses in Lompoc, Calif. during the Winterseason of the year. Plants were grown in 10 cm pots and measurementswere taken 13 weeks after rooted cuttings were planted. Heightmeasurements were taken from the soil line of the container. The plantswere grown at 16° C. night temperatures, 3000-4000 foot candles oflight, and 200 ppm nitrogen, 75 ppm potassium, and 200 ppm phosphorousnutritional levels, with trace elements added. Habit of growth, foliagecoloration, size of leaves, and peduncle length will be greatlyinfluenced by nutritional and environmental conditions.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused.

Parentage: A controlled cross between female parent Mikkelsen SeedlingNo. 91-201-2 and male parent Mikkelsen Seedling No. 90-301-2.

Propagation:

(A) Type cutting.—Stem tip cuttings up to 3 cm long.

(B) Time to root.—10 days at 21° C. summer; 12 days at 21° C. winter.

(C) Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous, abundant.

Plant description:

Habit and form of growth.—Semi-tall, semi-mounded, excellent basalbranching; flower clusters bloom above foliage. Environment and use ofgrowth regulators will play a role in final height. Average height is 25cm and average width is 30 cm. Internode length is typically 15 mm. Mainstem diameter is 10 mm, stem texture is smooth, glabrous, and stem coloris Yellow-Green Group 147A.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple and opposite. Size: Leaves arepetiolate and petioles are Yellow-Green Group 147A having a length of 15mm and width of 5 mm. Average, full grown leaves on a plant when grownin a 10 cm pot are 9 to 10 cm long and 6.0 to 6.5 cm wide. Shape: Ovatewith obtuse apex and acute base. Texture: Glabrous: coriaceous andsucculent. Margin: Crennate; shallow lobed. Color: Young foliage topside is Green Group 137A, underside is Yellow-Green Group 146A; maturefoliage top side is Yellow-Green Group 147A, underside is Yellow-GreenGroup 147B.

Branching.—Average number of lateral branches is 8. The average lateralbranch length is 20 cm and average lateral branch diameter is 5 mm. Thebranch texture is smooth, glabrous, and color is Yellow-Green Group147A.

Flowering description:

Flowering habit.—Inflorescence is a compound dichasial cyme. Terminalflower on main axis opens first followed by the terminal flowers of theside branches, continuing with the subsequent development of branches inthe inflorescence. Inflorescence is made up of the main stem and up to 8or more lateral branches depending on growing schedule followed.

Natural flowering season.—Early January. Flowering time under controlleddaylength (10 hours daylight, 14 hours darkness) at 20° C. in summer is8.5 to 9 weeks; in winter is 10 to 10.5 weeks. Flowering time depends ontemperature, light intensity and other growing conditions.

Flower buds.—Oblong, up to 10 mm long before showing color, developingto tubular as flower petals mature; sheathed in four (4) sepals coloredYellow-Green Group 144B. Sepals are individual with a lanceolate shape.Sepals are 8 mm long and 2 mm wide.

Flowers borne.—Compound dichasial cyme with primary peduncle being 4 mmin diameter just below the first branch of the inflorescence; length ofpeduncle will vary depending on growing conditions. The average numberof peduncles is 10 with an average length of 15 cm, average diameter of5 mm, smooth, glabrous texture, and Yellow-Green Group 147A color. Theaverage number of pedicels is 250 with an average length of 3 mm,average diameter of 1 mm, smooth, glabrous texture, and Yellow-GreenGroup 147A color. Pedicels vary in length depending on where they are inthe inflorescence. Flower 16 mm in diameter.

Quantity of flowers.—Numerous flowers on the main stem plus the 8 ormore lateral branches will have 30 or more flowers each. Approximatetime period for bloom lastingness is 4 to 6 weeks. The florets are flatin shape.

Petals.—Shape: Almost rounded, top cuspidate. Color: Top side whenopening is Red Group 50A fading to Red Group 51A. Underside is Red Group55B at petal edge and Red Group 55D at petal center. Number of petals:4. Size: Individual petals 7 mm wide and 8 mm long.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: 8 in number, with an average size of 3 mmnot fused to the petal. Anthers: Flat, elliptical in shape, yellow-greenin color. Filament color: Yellow-green. Pollen: Abundant, yellow.Pistils: Average of 4 per flower with an average size of 12 mm. Stigma:Flat in shape, mature color is white. Style color: Light green. Ovaries:4 in number, size is 8 mm, green color.

Fertility.—The plants are fertile, but do not normally set seed undergreenhouse or garden conditions, unless in a controlled crossingprogram.

Disease resistance: ‘Flower Maxi Rose’ has shown resistance to powderymildew. No disease problems have been observed to date.

OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS

1. Semi-tall growth habit combined with good lateral and basal branchingallows cultivar to be finished in a 15 cm pot from one cutting insteadof the normal 3 cuttings.

2. Excellent flower coverage on upper half of plant due to excellentlateral and basal branching.

3. No or minimum amount of growth regulators needed.

4. Pinching is not required or recommended.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named‘Forever Maxi Rose’, as illustrated and described.